Hilltopper39

It's an upcharge, extra ontop of the admission price

Orlandos pretty much looks like a head on a stick, if your sitting front and center it looks pretty good, but from the side of the stadium it looks like a head on a stick. It's not a terrible effect just could be a little better. I don't have a picture, sorry

Just a thought I've had that's almost completly unrelated to the new ride. Kings Dominion and Kings Island are 2 parks that are fairly comparable, but recently KD has been the 1 upper of sorts. Kings island gets a used Vekoma Flyer Dominion gets a used B&M floorles, advantage dominion. Kings Island gets a new B&M speed coaster, Dominion gets a new Intamin Giga, while the jury is still out I'd be willing to bet come next May it'll be advantage Dominion as well with that. Just a thought. But the ride looks awesome, while the recent trend has shyed away from building bigger taller faster, I'm glad to see someone build another big coaster, can't wait. Maybe instead of a single rider they'll have a rednecks only line, or maybe a " Shoes, Shirt, and Jorts must be worn at all times" sign.

What's a Pirate's favorite coaster? HRRRRRR!, that and Roar at SFDK oddly enough

Im still waiting for my dream game, Grand Theft Auto: Lake Buena Vista. Throw a few gernades off the people mover, take a flame thrower into Its a Small World, blow up the Imagination Pavilion and free Figment and DreamFinder. That'd be cool It's been very interesting reading Robb and Dave's insight to the game development biz, never been a huge gamer but a little perspective into the development of a project of that nature is interesting. Thanks guys

I had read on another site that the Aladdin Carpet ride in Adventureland was being moved/removed for the Fantasyland renovation. Seeing as how that as essentially exactly the same ride system with different colors and "dumbos" instead of carpets I could see it being very easy to convert Aladdin into the second Dumbo for the expansion.

Yeah I'd like to see USC in the Rose Bowl this January again too, although I'de like it to be the National Championship game against Florida. USC is the best big game team in the country, and Florida is, well the best team in the country, so thats the matchup I want to see in Pasadena this year.

Nice report, I drive by that place on 95 all the time but have never been. That putting course looks pretty cool, Ive always wanted to see a minature golf type course similar to fantasia gardens but with real grass kinda like that one but a little more "fun". But that place looks pretty cool. I think out of 10 shots I could probably put one on that green, maybe if I was on.

Barry Melrose!!! yeah thats about all I know about Hockey. I've never understood how a profesional hockey team makes it in the south, Atlanta, Nashville, Tampa, or Miami. I mean if no one there plays hockey, and kids dont grow up learning hockey and there aren't any hockey teams in schools how can you learn the sport or appreciate it. I've been to several Nashville Predators games which were a lot of fun because there are hard hits and fights but I had no idea what was really going on and I'm pretty sure no one around me in the crowd did either. I guess there are enough 'northern transplants', as you put it, in those cities to support a team. I'll just stick to football and Horse Racing. This is an awesome thread, one of these days I need to get around to doing a Trip report of some of the sporting venues I've been too, and some of the ones I've played in too. I've got some pretty cool pictures in the locker at the Swamp somewhere, if I can find em.

I got in 2 rides today and thought it was a great coaster and great addition to the park overall, however I didn't like it as much as Goliath at sfog or Apollos Chariot, but I did enjoy it more than Raging Bull. Great airtime on the first drop but the rest if the layout was a little uninspiring. Anyone notice or know why the lift supports were yellow and the rest of the rides were tan ish? I thought the yellow looked kinda bad but the tan was great. Lines moved really well today too, so that's a plus. Good ride. Kings Island isn't just a credit run anymore!!! Haha

The first drop on this thing looks like a exact mirror image of the first drop from the Kentucky Rumbler.

I saw the movie today and was really excited about it but came away a bit dissapointed. Was expecting it to be more of a comedy because thats how the previews look, but it wasnt really that funny besides a few random scenes. Kennywood looked great, but the movie itself wasnt that impressive to me. Maybe my expectations were to high or something I dont know, jsut though it could have been a lot better

During Halloween Horror nights at Universal Orlando they use a text mesasge system to update guests on wait times for the haunted houses. You would text in a message to a number and it would send wait time updates backto your phone like every 30 minutes or so. It worked pretty well and was really useful. They also had a choose your own adventure type thing to tell the backstory for the hosues that you could get via text message while waiting in line which was a very cool feature I thought, a lot of fun to play along while waiting in line

Nice trip report, I really miss working at Animal Kingdom. I was never much of a fan of kali Rapids, I mean its got some really cool effects and the drop is fun but after the drop is just kinda floats back to the station back to the station and doesnt really do anything, could have been much more entertaining. 4500 per hour on the safaris sounds a little high but not too far off, I was under the impression that it could handle around 4000, but if ya think about it the safari jeep is probably the largest ride vehicle anywhere seating around 40 people or so and dispatches 2 jeeps every 3 minutes or so, double a coaster's dispatch, I'd think 4000 ish is pretty realistic. I guess the parks flagship attraction better be able to handle those kind of numbers or you get into a mess of a que line like Toy Story Mania and Rock N Roller Coaster and Soarin.

I'm gonna go ahead and piss off the fanboys here, but my answer is most attractions Disney, well a lot of attractions at Disney. Soarin, Mission Space, Test Track, Stitch Encounter, Dinosaur, Kali River Rapids, Ellen Universe of Energy, The new Tiki Room, Primevil Whirl, Finding Nemo Musical, Star tours,and a few others. I mean I love Disney as much as anyone but some of the more recent additions are jsut kinda meh to me. You experience it once and its not as interesting or entertaining the 2nd or 4th or 10th time. As far as coasters Medusa at SFWA (or whatever it is now), and msot SLC's and B&M Superman flyers, yeah

Nice Update Robb, everytime I look at this thing it just looks better and better, always have loved GCI coasters and this one looks like it might one of their best yet, cant wait!!

Scott i agree with you, Every ride I've ever had on Gwazi has been great, okay a lil rough but whatever. I think everyone else just needs to toughen up a lil!

Millennium Force's first drop is amazing while the rest of the ride to me is a bit dull but a few unmentioned votes for best first drop... Raptor CP... The only B&M invert that i've been on with that kind of drop, sort of a twisting left dive while banking to the right over the midway, really cool feeling. Maverick CP... insane airtime any seat Vortex kings island... back seat has great airtime and still scares me to death

Even better haha

Great trip report, it's cool to see a coaster guy thats into football haha! Nice jobs at the game too haha

probably a pretty damn good chance but I thought it was a pretty funny random coincidence.

Scott you trip report was so inspiring that I had to go to Dollywood and just got home a few hours ago. Awesome park, it's just too bad that you have to go to Tennessee to get to it. Nothing says welcome to Tennessee like a shop specializing in Fudge, Knives, and Swimwear. Also what is with the PMW these days? Its funny cause I saw it all in your Dollywood/Lake Winnie report then when I get to Pigeon Forge like 4 days in the window of some crappy hotel behind the Red Robin Pancake House (yeah, home of the Moon Pie pancakes, seriously) there was a poster board with Sharpie written message that said "PMW is here". Kinda funny.

Hey Norman thanks for the great responses, here's a few more questions.. 1. I know you said you mainly use AutoCad, but are any other programs ever invloved in the design process like Solidworks or AutoDesk or ProE or anything like that. 2. When you do your design calculations, do you utilize any type of finite element package in the process like Cosmosworks or Ansys? Or do you use some type of in house program. 3. How often does a company like your analyze previous rides to improve the future ones? Do you ride the rides you've opened and say well this hill and this turn worked well but this one didn't quite ride like we anticipated, and then try to make improvements on future designs. I know from riding the GCI's that have been built over the past 10 years or so it seems like every one new one they build is better than the last so I wondered how often you analyze previous rides and try to improve upon their design for future rides. Thanks!!!

Hey Norman, great idea for a topic here. I've got a question, how did you initially get into the industry? I've recently graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering and am hoping to get involved in the roller coaster/amusement park industry at some point in my career and was just wondering how you got your start. thanks!!!

Just about anyone who came from American Idol neds t og oaway, Rascal Flatts, and Soulja Boy. I hate Soulja Boy so much, freakin hate that guy